Lake sturgeon growth and longevity from capture-mark-recapture data
Data files
May 05, 2026 version files 227.13 KB
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Dryad_Data_Upload.xlsx
224.93 KB
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README.md
2.20 KB
Abstract
Effective fishery management policy depends on accurate life-history data, particularly for harvested species. Longevity is a core life-history trait that is directly related to annual survival and lifetime reproductive potential, but fish longevity is generally not well documented, particularly for long-lived species. We used capture–mark–recapture data spanning 44 years as an alternative method to estimate sex-specific adult lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) average annual growth and longevity for five populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. We determined individual fish average annual growth and fit population and sex-specific exponential lines for average annual growth as a function of fish length at initial capture. We used the exponential equations to estimate age for 180 cm fork length (FL) female and 160 cm FL male lake sturgeon from each population by sequential subtraction of annual growth increments and assuming age at onset of sexual maturity of 24 and 15 years for females and males, respectively. Average annual growth estimates varied between sexes and among populations and ranged from 0.26 to 1.15 cm year−1. Estimated ages also varied among populations. Age estimated for a 160 cm FL male lake sturgeon across the five populations ranged from 90 to 279 years. Age for a 180 cm FL female across populations ranged from 99 to 427 years. Our data suggest lake sturgeons live much longer than currently believed. High longevity and inferentially higher adult survival have important implications for sturgeons in general and support conservative harvest regulations for lake sturgeon fisheries.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ns1rn8q5r
Description of the data and file structure
File: Dryad_Data_Upload.xlsx
Description:
Lake sturgeon capture-mark-recapture data used for determining mean annual growth for 5 populations across the Laurentian Great Lakes. Also included are data on TL vs FL regression for lake sturgeon, and comparison of measuring board vs flexible tape measured FL for lake sturgeon.
- "Growth Data" Worksheet:
Data are the mean annual growth (cm/yr) estimated for 5 lake sturgeon populations in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Mean annual growth was calculated from differences in length between capture events and years between capture events.
- "FL-TL Data" Worksheet
Data are fork length and total length measurements (cm) collected from lake sturgeon in Black Lake. Data were used to calculate linear regression relationship of FL as function of TL and the regression was used to estimate FL for fish that were only measured to TL.
- "BoardvsTape Data" Worksheet
Data are fork length (FL) measures (cm) of lake sturgeon collected using a rigid measuring board and a flexible measuring tape. A linear regression analysis was used to show that there was no difference between the two methods used for measuring lake sturgeon FL.
Variables
- Population specifies the waterbody where lake sturgeon were sampled
- Sex specifies the sex of individual animals
- Mean Ann Growth (cm/yr) is mean annual lake sturgeon growth in cm/yr estimated from length at initial capture, length and recapture, and years between captures.
- Observation #- Individual fish identifier
- TotalL specifies total length (cm) for an individual fish
- ForkL specifies fork length (cm) for an individual fish
- FL-board specifies fork length (cm) measured with a rigid measuring board for an individual fish
- FL-tape specifies fork length (cm) measured with a flexible measuring tape for an individual fish
Code/software
Data were analyzed in Microsoft Excel and R version 4.2.2 (www.r-project.org) using the nls() function.